Dr. Brian A. Powell is the Fjeld Professor in Nuclear Environmental Engineering and Science at Clemson University, jointly appointed in the Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences and the Department of Chemistry. He holds affiliations with the Savannah River National Laboratory and leads Rosewater Geochemical Modeling, LLC. His research focuses on radioactive waste treatment, radionuclide migration, and geochemical modeling, supported by over $26M in federal funding. He has published 120+ peer-reviewed articles and advised 15 Ph.D. and 21 M.S. students. Dr. Powell’s awards include the 2022 Clemson Senior Researcher of the Year and the 2014 Governor’s Young Researcher Award. Education: Ph.D. and M.S. in Environmental Engineering (Clemson University, 2004 and 2001), B.S. in Chemistry (University of Montevallo, 1999). Postdoctoral research at Lawrence Livermore and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories (2004–2008). Academic career at Clemson since 2008, progressing to Full Professor in 2016. Research interests span environmental radiochemistry, subsurface contaminant transport, and nuclear waste disposal. Recent work includes uranium partitioning in wetlands, plutonium cycling in ponds, and technetium leaching from cement waste forms. His studies integrate field, laboratory, and computational methods to address environmental and health risks from nuclear materials. Awards: 2022 Clemson Class of ’39 Award, 2021 Engineering Researcher of the Year, 2018 Fred C. Davidson Award, and DOE Early Career Award (2013). Active in university governance, serving on strategic planning committees and the Faculty Senate. Advising and Grants: Supervised 15 Ph.D. students, 21 M.S. students, and 15 postdocs. Over $26M in grants from DOE, NRC, and others. Collaborations with Savannah River National Lab advance waste disposal solutions. Mentored HBCU students in nuclear waste research through summer programs. Labs and Teams: Joint appointee at Savannah River National Lab; founder of Rosewater Geochemical Modeling LLC. Active in professional societies, including NCRP’s Environmental Radiation Committee.











